A Canadian figure skating company is performing in Philly. It’s nothing like the figure skating you see on TV.
So at 22, he ended his competitive time and went into another somewhat straightforward skating career, performing with Disney on Ice.But he found understudying Pinocchio and skating other character roles equally disappointing. . His search for fulfillment on blades eventually led him to start a contemporary ice skating company that now tours the world, showcasing the types of dynamic, creative movements he pursued during his competitive career.
Le Patin Libre also performs on roller skates when the venue calls for them. But Hamel will point out to arts presenters that their city likely has an ice rink where the company can perform, even in the summer. A big break came in 2013; a residency at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London “helped us define what we were doing,” said Hamel.What they wanted to do, it turned out, was to disconnect from the figure skating world and lean in more toward the world of dance and circus. Their home, Montreal, was also home to Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Éloize, and other companies breaking barriers.